A/N: A little filler before it really gets going!
Two Weeks Later
Nobody knew the real reason for Ruth's annual leave but Harry had reasoned with himself that working with a bunch of intelligent people meant you would expect the speculation to be quite high, which inevitably it was. Part of him worried about what Ruth would be subject to once she arrived back to work. Of course this too was his fault, but he was worried for her and how she would react not only to the rumours floating about the work place but the inevitable book that Zaf would be running on the matter. Sometimes he wished he could take all the pain he'd inflicted on her and pile it all onto himself. A selfless option, he had thought, but then it shows me just how much pain I have caused her and that is something I would rather not feel.
He'd even gone round to Ruth's house the afternoon Jo had told him Ruth would leave for her holiday. He had been secretly been hoping Ruth had made it up to throw Jo off the scent. He'd known deep down she hadn't. He would have stayed and watched the house for some time were it not for her nosey neighbours recognising him from a few weeks ago and ushering him a way like a stray cat. He'd known better than to stay and argue with them and had returned to his car with farfetched hope that Ruth might be thinking of him, thinking about forgiving him, but definitely not thinking about getting over him.
Harry watched Ruth as she pulled up in front of her house and switched off the engine. He wasn't entirely sure what his motives were, but he knew his actions would be dictated by them soon enough. He'd managed to get Ruth's arriving day off of Jo in one of her more vulnerable moments and without hesitation had decided he'd sit it out and try to talk to her that afternoon. He smiled as he watched her struggle to lift her suitcase out of the boot of the car before slamming the doors shut, locking it up safely and making her way to her front door. He knew he should leave her alone, but if the last two weeks had proved anything, it was that he definitely couldn't face life without her.
Ruth pushed the door open let out a loud sigh as she placed her suitcase by the bottom of the stairs and closed the door behind her. She was home. The last two weeks had been the most peaceful she daresay she'd ever experienced. She didn't have to worry about getting up early for work, or worry about the day to day hassles of her working life. She was free to be plain and dandy Ruth Evershed for two weeks in a place that nobody would ever recognise her. And she had been happy, even if she had to reluctantly admit she had missed Harry just a little bit.
Turning her attentions back to the fallen post on the mat, she picked up all the offending items and scanned through them one by one. Just as she was about to move from the hallway and settle down in the living room she felt the unmistakable thrill of eyes boring into the back of her head. It was a sixth sense she had developed throughout her time on the grid, and as she realised what this feeling meant she once again felt the repressed anger beginning to bubble on the surface. If it is him, she thought. If he is here just as I get back from my holiday...
She turned her head slightly to get a better view through the door window and knew the moment she saw a bulk of flesh and bones standing on her doorstep that her worst suspicions had been confirmed. She toyed briefly with once again leaving him alone on her doorstep. It seemed a logical idea too, except for the fact the result of what happened last time she did that were still etched firmly into her memory. She pulled the door open stood glaring at the man in front of her for some time. He looked paler than usual, a little more tired as well. Studying him a little further she also realised he was shaking slightly, and it was far from cold outside. The anger than had previously been building up seemed to deflate and she found herself calm enough to think this might do them both a little good. She had spent two weeks away from him as he had her.
She stepped to one side to allow him entrance to her home. She didn't wait for him to step over the threshold; instead she turned on her heel and marched in the direction of the kitchen searching for the strongest beverage she could find. The sound of the door clicking shut and hasty footsteps in her direction told her everything she needed to know. He had accepted her offer to come in, the look of surprise still evident on his features (he'd been sure she'd turn him away again but he just had to keep trying) as he entered the kitchen. He was in her house, she had no where left to hide and now they had no choice but to get it all out in the open.
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